The 65th annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo
The 65th annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo kicks off its 10-night run at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, December 7. The competition will come to an exciting conclusion on Saturday, December 16 when World Champions will be crowned.
The gold buckle ambitions of thousands of ProRodeo cowboys will be realized by only a select few at the end of the regular rodeo season, Sept. 30. After traveling countless miles along the rodeo trail, only the elite top 15 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings for each event, qualify for the NFR. It is the richest, most prestigious rodeo in the world and boasts sold-out attendance for more than three decades.
The Wrangler NFR, which is at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Dec. 7-16, will have a record-setting payout of more than $11.5 million. This amount includes guaranteed prize money of $1.2 million for NFR qualifiers.
Between 2015 and 2020, the NFR paid out a total of $10 million – $8.8 million in competition prize money and $1.2 million in guaranteed prize money to qualifiers. The total purse increased to $10,257,048 in 2021 and $10,900,098 in 2022.
Based on the updated purse in 2023, the increase will see round winners take home $30,706 per round and average winners earn $78,747. Each go-round will pay a total of $99,053, while the average total will pay $297,159 per event.
The stock contractor pay – which is 30% of the contestant payout – increased to $3,450,451.
Known as the richest and most prestigious rodeo in the world, the Wrangler NFR attracts the Top 15 contestants in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing, and bull riding to compete for a share of the increased purse and the coveted PRCA World Champion Gold Buckle. In 2022, the event had a total attendance of 173,350 over the 10 days of competition at the Thomas & Mack Center and has sold out more than 350 consecutive performances in Las Vegas.
For more information on the Wrangler NFR, please visit NFRexperience.com or through social media @LasVegasNFR and use #WranglerNFR. For the latest ProRodeo news and Wrangler NFR coverage, please visit prorodeo.com or through social media @PRCA_ProRodeo.
